Sweet Potato Halwa also called Shakarkandi ka Halwa in Hindi is a delicious Indian sweet made with boiled and mashed sweet potatoes and scented with cardamom, saffron.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 20 minutes
  • Cook time: 20 minutes
  • Total time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 3
  • Category: Desserts, Sweets
  • Cuisine: North Indian

Ingredients

  • 2 sweet potatoes ((shakarkandi), medium to large)
  • 4 tablespoons sugar (or as required, depends on the sweetness of the sweet potatoes)
  • 7 to 8 tablespoon oil ((any neutral oil), can add ghee instead)
  • 3 to 4 green cardamoms (crushed or powdered or ½ teaspoon green cardamom powder)
  • 12 to 15 strands of saffron (- optional)
  • 10 to 12 cashews

Method

  1. Boil the sweet potatoes first adding water as needed in a pot on the stovetop or in a pressure cooker or the Instant Pot.
  2. Drain the water and set aside the cooked sweet potatoes to become warm. The sweet potatoes should be fork tender and softened well after cooking.
  3. When the sweet potatoes become warm, peel and mash them with a potato masher.
  4. Heat oil or ghee in a heavy kadai (wok) or pan.
  5. First fry the cashews.
  6. Remove when they become golden and keep aside.
  7. In the same oil, add the mashed sweet potatoes.
  8. Stir well and sauté for 3 to 4 mins on medium-low to medium heat.
  9. Add sugar. Mix and sauté for 4 to 5 mins on medium-low to medium heat.
  10. Now add cardamom powder and stir to mix.
  11. Add saffron and mix again.
  12. Keep on stirring and cooking the halwa till the oil or ghee starts to leave the sides of halwa. This will take approx. 10 to 12 minutes on a medium-low to medium heat.
  13. Lastly add the fried cashew nuts and stir again.
  14. Serve sweet potato halwa hot, warm or cold.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.